The W Family

I'm telling you. It was pure chase.

A fluke, really.

An afternoon at the Children's Museum of Winston Salem, a few pictures here and there . . . and then - like a bolt of happy lightning - there it was in front of me. Their initial. Just awaiting for us to photograph.

So the W family got their picture on a W. And I think its absolutely fabuloso.







And before you wonder why I like this picture so much (and, granted, it isn't necessarily a piece of artwork)...take a closer look in the window.

That's mom's reflection as she stood aside, waiting for me to photograph her children. You've seen her here and now you've met her children.

Siblings in the Rain

Not only did Jennifer (cool name, huh?!) and her siblings decide to surprise their parents with framed photos as a Christmas present...they were willing to brave a rainy and bitterly cold December afternoon for the sake of the surprise.



"Hey Mom, we're going out to lunch together today. See you later."
[in Mom's head: WHAT?! they're my children. they don't get along. yet they're going out for lunch?]
"Okay, kids, have fun!"



They did go out to lunch after we finished shooting -- don't worry, I'm not supporting lying to your parents! And I hope they got lots of hot chocolate. Because, um, it was COLD. And when I say cold...I mean cooold.



But it all worked. We took the pictures. Processed them. The printer even got them finished and mailed to me before Christmas.



And on Christmas day?

Mom cried for happiness.

Now if that's not enough reason to be glad we braved the cold, I'm not sure what would be.



So, yes. We did it. We got the pictures and made Mom and Dad happy.

Life is good. =)

The J Family

Three boys. Such energy. Wow.

I cannot imagine three brothers. Or, for that matter, three sons. But somehow Mrs. J does it - and does it fabulously, I might add. :-)

And as proof, I present the beautiful mother as she looks at the handsome father.



And now for their family. A dapper clan, don't you think? And so camera-friendly!



My buddy Austyn, you see, wasn't too thrilled with the whole picture-taking concept. But he was a trooper. I tried to make it as fun as possible for him, but no matter what I did, he just wouldn't admit that he was having fun. Not even when he got to hang out by a banana plant or walk in the middle of the road or jump up and down.

By the end, though, as his smile got bigger...I knew he was just being stubborn. Hanging out at Old Salem *is* fun even if he won't admit it.



Now, I'm pretty sure that this is my favorite picture from the shoot (if you don't count the jumping shot and the full-family setup). Justyn was in the right place at the right time and the sun cooperated with me so perfectly and I love the backlighting and the vivid colors and the picket fence. (And, yes, I do fully realize that Justyn probably will never fully appreciate the picket fence. I can live with that.)



I'm not going to embarrass Brandon with any sort of comments about how wonderful and cooperative he was with my antics. But just know that it was true. :-)



And, finally, one more image of the whole clan. :-)

One Big Family

I knew I was in for some, um, excitement even before I arrived at the homestead.

A couple days before my scheduled photo shoot with this extended family, full of fun and good-looking genes, I got an email wondering if I would hang out an upstairs bedroom window to take an aerial shot of all the family in a family tree configuration.

My mental picture, as I read that email, had me hanging desperately onto the window sill with one foot while the other leg kicked wildly through the air as I dangled out the window upside down shooting pictures frantically in hopes of getting a good one before I plummeted to the earth.

My goal: avoid the dangle and plummet part.

As I described this plan to my friend and fellow photographer, she wasn't as sympathetic as I'd hoped:

I want a picture of you taking a picture of that... :P

What a great friend, huh?

Well, anyway, I didn't dangle. I didn't plummet. But I did get the family tree shot.

:-)

Plus, the obliging cousins lay on the ground while I peered down at them from my perch. They must like laying on the ground. Or, at least, they look awfully cute in the process. :-)

The McA Family

If there is one thing that would seem to encapsulate this family, its their music. Not only did they bring their family prim and proper to meet me for a photo shoot, but they brought musical instruments. All of them. (And when I say "all" -- I mean... a lot!)

Granted, we were specifically taking pictures of the instruments and with the instruments in preparation for their soon-to-be released CD. But that's another post and another story and another shoot.




"Have you ever seen Anne of Green Gables?" I asked her almost immediately.
She nodded. "Mom and I watched them."
I sighed with delight.
"That is one of my favorite movies - ever! Has anyone ever told you that you look like Anne?"
She shook her head.

Doesn't she, though? The green eyes. The spattering of freckles. The adorable red hair. And one amazing smile.




I refrained from telling him so -- wouldn't want to embarrass him, you know? -- but big brother's red hair is pretty cool, too. As is his ability to pose with a saxaphone, pretend [convincingly] to play it, but not actually squeak out a note. His skill at playing the bass, though, was obvious; his serenade while I snapped the shutter made me want to keep on snapping, just so he'd keep on playing.

The A Family

When I spent time with these peoples, I was told three things: "You are not funny" and "I am not beautiful" and "I don't like pictures of just me."

I almost decided to join the circus as the not-funny-and-always-crying clown. And then I thought about needing months and months of rehab after that damage to my psyche. But then I realized something very important: They are beautiful.

And, if they're beautiful, then they don't tell the truth. And, if they don't tell the truth, then I don't need to worry about my lack of funniness. And, therefore, I can avoid the sob story.

Therefore, they are liars. Therefore, I am funny. Therefore, I will not cry over my lack of humor.

:-P

Oh! And I am pleased to admit that the "I don't like pictures of just me" chorus ended rather abruptly when I delivered the sneak peak of images. Apparently that's another reason I don't need to worry about their opinion on my humor.



(And, besides, if I'm not funny...why are they all laughing?)


And who in their right mind can say that ANY of these people aren't good-looking and, um, beautiful!


Moral of the story? Don't doubt my ability to take a photo you will like. :-)



And, for complete honesty's sake, I was finally told that I am funny. A hesitant confession, but a confession nonetheless. I'll take it!

See?? I am funny.

(The peanut gallery need not refute that. I prefer to live in my blissful little humorous world.)

The C Family

Family: The W Children

This year, it was a day on the farm. The cows were on their way to a dinner table somewhere. The chickens were startling citified me. The dogs were, well, dogs. And - of course - the cats were numerous. We played on tractors and trekked through the garden.

Seven years ago, it was just an afternoon playing in the sunset on the lawn. I had my Pentax K-1000 (the pride and joy of this high school junior) and had begged and pleaded for Mrs. W to let me visit her children one afternoon to take some pictures. For one afternoon, they were no longer my babysitting charges. Instead, they were my camera's subjects. And I was proud. And, *cough* I was even prouder of the outcome.

Check it out. A picture from the archives. There they are. In front of my K-1000. Playing with my sister.



Now, however, they've changed a lot. Seven years will do that, eh? Little munchkin is now Mr. Macho. And the kittens have had kittens and their kittens have had kittens.



The barn is new. The pasture is now used. The children are no longer little. They are growing up. (Which means I'm getting old, but that's beside the point.)


Time does that, I guess. Changes people. It sure has changed me. I mean, film is ancient history. Now its digital - yeehaw - and my lens arsenal keeps on growing.



One thing hasn't changed, though. And that is the beauty of spending an afternoon with wonderful children. Children with impeccable manners. Gorgeous blue eyes. Ready smiles. And a wealth of wisdom far beyond their years.



And that, my friends, was my afternoon on the farm.

Sneak Peek: Weekend Shoots

With two photo shoots in one afternoon (yes, I do mean back-to-back), I have a plenty of yummy pictures to process this week. You'll have to wait to see more...but in the meantime, check out these samples of my weekends.








Oh! And have I mentioned lately how wonderful it is to be behind a camera?!

:-)

Family: The C Family

Meet Ashley and Stephen. They met. They fell in love. They got married. The end. Umm...or not. ;-) That's only just the beginning.

Now, they get to enjoy each other every single day, laughing their way through life. He'll says something and she rolls her eyes at him, but then grabs his hand and gives him a quick kiss, just to show how much she loves him. He's there for her, no matter what, and knows how to make her happy - and he carries the diaper bag for her without being asked.

(And did I mention they are a.dor.a.ble?!)

The best part? Their daughter. (No offense, you two, but she'll always steal the spotlight...its absolutely the rule.) Not quite sure where she got her good looks *cough, cough* but something tells me she's on her way to gorgeousness. (No, dear readers, it is not a word, but it describes quite perfectly what the offspring of these two models will most definitely look like in a few years, after she finishes her stint as "cuteasabutton".)

Remember I said baby is the highlight? Try to dispute it now...check out all those little faces!! Talk about expressive!


And, um, did I mention that Stephen adores his daughter?


*shhh*
Don't tell them this, but Mom and Dad are definitely where Madison got her good looks.
But that's our little secret.






And then you put all three of them together?
Family happiness.


Awww.
That's all.
:-)

Sneak Peek: The W Children

I was the stereotypical city slicker. Having come straight from my day job, I was still in my dress pants and blouse and big earrings that fit into office dress code. On the upside, I wasn't wearing heels. Foresight for which I will forever be grateful.

:-P

We hiked through woods, tip toed through mud pies, hung out at the pond, avoided the rooster, played on the tractor, traipsed in the garden. I asked what "that black thing is" and was very quickly informed -- by all three children -- that I was looking at the deer feeder. Can we go over there? I had to wonder. Of course! I was told.

I am ashamed to admit it, but I even jumped when I first heard the rooster clucking behind me.

BUT, it was fun (duh!) and I got great pictures of a great family.

In Love: Mr. and Mrs. K

I have a confession to make. Hopefully this will not come as too much of a surprise to you, my readers. But I have to be honest with you.

I am a hopeless romantic. A truly Sappy Soul.

When I got to this next series of images, they were so unexpected, so full of raw emotion, so joyful and beautiful and loving, I almost lost it. In a good way, of course, but tearful overwhelming nonetheless. I sat at my computer screen attempting to continue processing their images but I couldn't. It was too beautiful. Too powerful. Too real.

I'm not even sure how it happened. I mean, I'm the photographer. The camera was in my hands the entire afternoon. I took every single picture I have of Mr. and Mrs. K, of course. But somehow, in an inexplicable brain malfunction, I didn't know I had captured those pictures.

But there it was. Staring at me from my computer screen. Impossible to deny. And too beautiful to ignore. It wasn't staged. It wasn't faked. I didn't tell them what to do. (I mean, for pete's sake, I don't even remember them doing it!)

It was love. A time-tested love. A love that has seen more than its fair share of ups and downs. A growing love that started probably 30 years ago and is more alive now than it was at the beginning. He looked at her and she looked at him. They looked with eyes that have seen life together and come out stronger for it. But they didn't just look. They smiled. Even after 30 years, even after heartache and trial and loss, even after the happiest days, even after days of tears, they love being together, they love laughing with each other, and - check it out - he still holds her hand.

More beautiful than it all, though, he made her laugh. And by making her laugh, he laughed himself.

Now that's love.